Chapter 3

Sara Michaels

The first light of dawn crept through the curtains.

Sara sat on the bottom step of the staircase, knees drawn up, her arms wrapped around herself.

The house was silent except for the faint tick of the clock in the hall each second stretching longer than the last. She hadn’t slept. She hadn’t moved much since returning from the hospital, the taste of Tom’s cold refusal still bitter on her tongue.

Her mother’s pale face, her fragile breathing shallow kept flashing behind her eyes.

She thought about the amount. Fifty thousand dollars. A number that never felt impossible before, she was a rich man's wife afterall. But now it was a number that could steal her mother away if she didn’t fight for it.

She heard his car engine roaring before she saw it: the low purr of Tom’s car rolling into the driveway. The engine cut off and a door slammed. Then another.

Sara’s heart lurched. She stood slowly, smoothing her wrinkled dress with trembling hands. She had rehearsed this moment in her head all night…every word, every plea. She would beg. She would swallow her pride. For Mom.

She heard footsteps on the porch and then front door opened.

Tom stepped inside…indeed he was tall at 6’6, in a black sharp-suited suit, his silky hair still perfect even after a red-eye flight. And behind him, Emily Madrigo. She wore a tiny cream silk dress that clung to her like it had been painted on, lips red, eyes glittering with triumph. She didn’t even look surprised to see Sara.

Sara’s stomach dropped. She hadn’t expected to see her own husband bringing home his lover. They were not even divorced yet.

“Tom…” Her voice came out small and cracked. “I need to talk to you.”

He didn’t answer right away. His gaze slid over her in a disgusted and dismissive way…like she was a stain on the marble floor. “I told you to be gone.”

Emily's eyes welled with tears. “Oh, Mr McCarthy, maybe I should leave. She is your wife after all. She deserves you. I guess our childhood dreams won't be fulfilled now.”

Sara’s cheeks were stained with tears as she watched Tom rush to wipe Emily's tears, as if they burnt her skin. “Shiii…. Nonsense, you and I shall live our dream. Sara won't be a problem.”

She took a step forward. “Tom, please. Mom’s in the hospital. She has kidney failure. They need fifty thousand dollars for surgery upfront. You took everything. The accounts, my savings… it’s all gone. I’m begging you. Just this once. For her.”

Tom’s jaw tightened. He glanced at Emily, then back at Sara, like she was wasting his time. “I don’t owe you anything,” he said flatly. “You had your chance. You should’ve left when I told you.”

Emily stepped closer, heels clicking on the marble. She tilted her head, studying Sara like she was a curious insect. “You know, it’s almost sweet. How pathetic you are. Did you really think he’d keep your name on the accounts after everything? After he realized he’d wasted three years on… well, on *you*?”

Sara’s breath hitched. She looked at Tom, searching for any trace of the man who’d once begged her to marry him. “Tom… you said you loved me. You said you’d do anything for me. You cried when I said yes. Was that all a lie?”

He exhaled through his nose, impatient. “I thought I did. Then Emily came back. And I remembered what real love feels like. Not this boring house wife, and clingy, needy thing you are.”

The words landed like punches. Sara swayed, but she didn’t fall. She stepped closer to them, till they were face to face. Emily wrapped her arm on Tom tightly.

“I’m not asking for love,” she said, voice steadier now, though it shook. “I’m asking for fifty thousand dollars. For my mother. She’s dying. You can’t just leave her to die because you hate me.”

Emily smirked. “Oh, we can. And we will. You’re not his problem anymore, Sara. You never really were.”

Tom turned away, already moving toward the stairs. “Pack your things and get out. I’m not doing this again.”

Sara’s vision blurred with tears, but she stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “No. You don’t get to walk away. You took everything…every dollar I had, every hope, every second I spent loving you. You owe me this. Not for me. For her. She funded your business when you were almost bankrupt, we equally contributed.”

Emily laughed again, louder. “Listen to yourself. You sound desperate. It’s embarrassing.”

Sara ignored her. She kept her eyes on Tom. “One check. That’s all I’m asking. Fifty thousand. Then I’ll leave. You’ll never see me again.”

Tom looked down at her…for the first time since he walked in. For a split second, something flickered in his eyes. Guilt? Pity? It was gone before she could name it.

“No,” he said. “I’m done. And I never asked you or your family to help.”

He brushed past her, shoulder knocking hers. Emily followed, hips swaying, tossing a final glance over her shoulder. “Better hurry, sweetheart. The movers are coming at noon.”

When Sara married Tom, his company faced serious financial issues. This forced her to turn to her mom, who was managing Sara's small company at the time. She begged for the company to be sold so that the funds could save Tom's company.

Her mom refused at first, but because of the love Sara had for Tom. She agreed.

Tom promised to always take care of them, because they had nothing afterwards. He never complained before, at least that's what they thought.

Sara stood frozen in the foyer, ears ringing. She sank to the floor, knees hitting the marble. Tears came fast.

She wiped her face with the back of her hand. Stood up. Squared her shoulders.

She had no money. No home. No husband.

But she had her mother.

She watched as Tom was about to go up stairs with Emily, then she quickly ran after him and grabbed the hem of his jacket. He turned in a swift motion. “What? Haven't I told you to sign the papers and leave?”

“Wait…I will sign the papers and leave. But only if you help my mother and also, let me stay for a month only, at least I will have a job by then. I will not get in your way. I promise.”

“And if you break your promise?” He simply asked.

“You are free to do whatever you want with me. I'll accept your punishment. Please help my mother.”